One in five Australians consume three quarters of alcohol, report finds

One in five people is consuming nearly three quarters of the alcohol sold in Australia, according to a report that claims the alcohol industry is dependent on risky drinkers.

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education has called for a boycott on public health researchers working with the alcohol industry due to what it believes is a vested commercial interest in ensuring that problem drinkers continue to drink at risky levels.

The top 20 per cent of drinkers have increased their proportion of alcohol consumed. Photo: Jim Rice

"The alcohol industry is totally dependent on risky drinking."

A 2014 presentation to the drinks trade association, which was reported by the trade publication Liquor News, encouraged retailers to identify and target "super consumers".

"As little as 10 per cent of your customer base can be driving between 40 to 70 per cent of your sales," Nielsen associate director Michael Walton was reported to have told conference delegates.

US research showed "super consumers" of sparkling wine not only bought five times more sparkling wine, but four times more whisky, three times more vodka and three times more wine, Mr Walton was reported to have told delegates. "This is a real opportunity."

Contacted on Tuesday, Mr Walton said his point was that alcohol brands needed to innovate and create new products, such as the introduction in the US of a female-friendly, low alcohol alternative to beer, Bud Lite Marga-Ritas.

"The super consumer was illustrative, but it was not about liquor and it was not about Australia and the whole goal was to say you have a choice in how you find growth for your brand," Mr Walton said.

Australian Liquor Stores Association chief executive Terry Mott said the industry went to great lengths to ensure consumers did not over-indulge.

"Our people are properly trained to ensure that people don't drink to excess," Mr Mott said.